“Have you lost your mind?” Lauren asked as soon as the shop door had closed behind them. “I get it that you want to help Jade keep her horse, and I’m fine with donating funds that we may or may not get back in future soap and candles, but to buy her horse? That’s a whole other story.”
“Hear me out.”
“This better be good.”
They started down the block.
“Jade said Becky is a Swedish Warmblood.”
“Whatever that means.”
“A Swedish Warmblood is not just any old horse. If that’s truly what Becky is, and even if she’s completely untrained, she’s still worth somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen thousand dollars. I’m guessing the fact Jade’s parents have been willing to pay for the mare but not for the soap-and-candles business means the horse is worth that or more. I’d hate to see her fall into the hands of Jade’s creditors, whoever they are. Unless they know horses, they could end up selling her for pennies just to get what they’re owed.”
“Why doesn’t Jade just sell her? She obviously knows how much she’s worth.”
“Given her parent’s absence, I suspect the horse is her family. Jade would probably live on the streets if that meant she could keep Becky.”
Lauren stopped and turned to face Harriet.
“On a related topic, I’m surprised Jade isn’t doing better financially. I mean, there are always customers in her shop when I go there. And she’s been teaching classes in all kinds of stuff—soapmaking, candlemaking, something to do with essential oils. Aroma therapy, maybe. I know she opened an online store, too.”
“Now that you mention it, I am, too. Even if she’s paying all the expenses for her horse. I know she used to donate money to pay for holiday meals for the people in the homeless camp.”
Lauren started walking again.
“Like I said, I don’t mind donating money to pay the stable rent for a month, but you’re nuts getting any more involved than that. Especially without knowing more.”
Harriet blew out a breath.
“I’ll talk it over with James and see what he thinks.”
“And Robin?”
“Yeah, her, too.”